AIKEN, S.C. - With Columbus State University down 65-64 win just over two minutes to go, Hunter Preston put the Cougars on his back, scoring the final seven points to lead CSU to a key 71-70 victory over USC Aiken on Wednesday. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Convocation Center in Aiken, S.C.

Columbus State (19-8, 10-7 PBC) was in great position late in the game, holding a 62-50 lead with 9:02 to play. However, USC Aiken took over, going on a 15-2 run, including scoring the final 13 points of the spurt, to move in front 65-64.

That's when Preston took over. The senior connected on a 3-pointer at the 2:02 mark to put CSU back in front following three key stops by the Cougar defense.

Columbus State's defense continued the heat on the Pacers, holding USCA without a field goal over the final two-plus minutes until the last-second 3-pointer. Preston would ice the game by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

"That's what Hunter has been doing since he has got here," commented head coach Robert Moore. "We needed this one, and I'm glad the guys found a way to pull it out."

Preston ended the night with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds. The senior was 8-for-14 from the floor, including going 2-for-3 from deep.

Nelson Haskin added 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while Langston Gaither added 11 points. 

After a slow start, Columbus State was in control for the majority of the game. USC Aiken was up 6-2 before a 13-2 run gave the Cougars the lead. Gaither was huge in the spurt with three 3-pointers. The lead was pushed up to 13, 32-19, after Devan Porter-Wilson nailed a 3-pointer at the 5:16 mark.

The Pacers were able to cut into the lead before the break, going into the locker room down 39-33.

CSU's lead hovered around the 10-point mark early in the second half. It was another Porter-Wilson 3-pointer that looked to give Columbus State a comfortable 53-40 lead with 15 minutes to go, but the Pacers fought back. USCA chipped away until going on the 13-2 run to take its first lead since leading 6-4 early in the first.

Columbus State shot 43.9% (25-for-57) from the floor and was 11-for-25 (44.0%) from beyond the arc.

Tyler Johnson scored 21 points for the Pacers.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will play the regular-season finale against Georgia College on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. in Milledgeville, Ga.

COUGAR NOTES
• The Cougars moved up a spot to ninth in the latest NCAA Southeast Region rankings
• CSU's 19 wins are the most for the Cougars since the 2016-17 season
• The Cougars remain alive for the fourth seed in the upcoming PBC Tournament. If CSU wins at Georgia College and USC Aiken loses at North Georgia, the Cougars will get the fourth seed and host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 1
• It's the first time this season that Preston has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games. He now has seven double-doubles this year
• CSU is shooting 41.4% (29-for-70) from 3-point range over the last three games